A sea of flowers, a towering spire, Merlin...
And now, standing before him, was Guinevere, who had, in a sense, formed a Master-Servant contract with him.
After their initial exchange, a silence fell between them. Guinevere wasn't sure what else to say, while Merlin simply gazed at her—at Artoria's face—and recalled how this world's Artoria had willingly surrendered her body. As he observed her, a faint smile gradually touched his lips.
"It truly is our first meeting, Miss Guinevere. Thank you for answering my summons."
He had the same appearance, wore the same Mage of Flowers robes, and was just as much of a recluse. The only difference was that this Merlin's emotions were far more muted, still withdrawn due to the tragic end this world's Artoria had met.
"I assume you know why I summoned you?"
Guinevere glanced around. It was her first time in Avalon, but aside from the towering spire and the endless sea of flowers planted by Merlin, there wasn't much else to see.
The only noteworthy sights were the few faeries who darted away at her approach and the scarred, petrified statue of Bedivere.
Centuries ago, after the Battle of Camlann in this world, the King of Knights entrusted the Holy Sword to Bedivere, hoping he would return it to Avalon.
But Bedivere disobeyed the King's command. This failure prevented the King from finding peace, transforming her into a mindless undead spirit wandering the world. This state persisted until this world fell into the Holy Grail, causing a historical anomaly that Chaldea would later identify as the Sixth Singularity.
As for Bedivere, after disobeying his King and losing track of her, he too wandered the world. Consumed by endless regret, his soul and body gradually withered away until he turned to stone. Merlin eventually found him and brought him back to Avalon, where he waited for a chance to atone for his mistake.
Now, that time had come...
The King of Knights, wielding the Holy Lance, had defeated the warring factions near Jerusalem and burned the Holy City to ashes. From those ruins, she had raised a new Holy City: Camelot.
Meanwhile, the restorers of the Human Order—Chaldea's Master and Servants—had recently arrived at that very Singularity.
Guinevere looked from Merlin to the petrified Bedivere and nodded seriously. She shared what she knew, then waited for this world's Merlin to elaborate.
But to her disappointment, Merlin added nothing. He simply walked with her to stand before the petrified Bedivere.
"This time, let me go help Chaldea myself."
"I don't believe that is Bedivere's wish."
"Even if his body and soul will be burned away on this journey, regardless of success or failure?"
"This is his atonement."
Standing before the statue, Guinevere had known the answer before she even asked. She had only asked because she didn't want to see Bedivere truly burn away.
Manifested as a Ruler-class Servant, Guinevere no longer possessed her Noble Phantasm of Falsification. She couldn't save Bedivere.
Now, standing before the statue, she carefully reviewed her own status panel.
True Name: Guinevere Pendragon
Class: Ruler
Alignment: Lawful Good
Parameters:Strength: A+
Agility: B
Endurance: B
Mana: A++
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: A
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance: A+
True Name Discernment: A
Servant Sense: B
Independent Action: A (Due to not being summoned by the Holy Grail or the Counter Force, Independent Manifestation has been downgraded to Independent Action.)
Personal Skills:
Saint: A (As one chosen by the Holy Grail, she can choose to create an A-rank Holy Shroud or increase the rank of any one Class Skill or Personal Skill by one level.)
Judgment: A (Can pass judgment on a target with sufficient evidence. If deemed guilty, the target is marked as "Evil," increasing the damage they receive and forcing them into introspection.)
Executioner: EX (Executes sinners and those already judged. Wields the power of flames and is immune to fire damage.)
First Noble Phantasm:
[Sword of Destined Judgment]
Rank: A++
Type: Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm
Second Noble Phantasm:
[My Heart Holds No God, My Will Is the Divine Will]
Rank: A
Type: Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm
Max Targets: 1
Description: As a mortal, act as the divine will. Grants the user A-Rank Divinity, increases damage against all Evil-aligned Servants, and greatly enhances base parameters.
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"Hey, Guinevere, can I wake Bedivere now?"
Guinevere had been staring at the status panel for some time. Merlin had waited patiently, but all things must eventually move forward. He finally spoke, and without waiting for a reply, stepped forward and began casting the awakening Magecraft on Bedivere.
Stone dust trickled down as the moss withered away. The statue softened, its surface regaining the luster of human skin.
In moments, Bedivere was restored to his human form. Yet even in his unconscious state, his face was etched with anguish.
"O Wanderer, rusted and worn, on the verge of losing the trinity of body, soul, and spirit... Fulfill your sinner's pact. This is truly... your final chance."
Magecraft could only awaken the body; awakening the soul and spirit required only words.
When Merlin's words echoed directly in Bedivere's soul, his eyelids finally began to tremble. Soon, he opened his emerald-green eyes.
Confusion and anguish gave way to gratitude upon seeing Merlin, then to wide-eyed shock as he saw Guinevere, his mouth falling open.
He must have wanted to speak, to cry out "My King," but the shock rendered him speechless.
A smile, a pang of pity, a memory of the Bedivere from her own world...
After a soft sigh, Guinevere truly channeled the King of Knights, adopting the most regal expression she could muster.
"Calm yourself, Sir Bedivere."
Guinevere would claim to be the foremost expert on the King of Knights and would draw her sword against anyone who dared deny it.
And so...
Bedivere truly saw the familiar King of his heart. He pressed a hand to his face, nearly weeping, and instinctively performed a knight's salute to Guinevere.
Should she accept this salute?
Though he was Bedivere and she was disguised as the King of Knights, he was not the knight of the King she impersonated...
Guinevere turned aside, avoiding Bedivere's salute.
Just as Bedivere froze, on the verge of shutting down completely, Guinevere spoke directly, earnestly explaining the situation.
"I am not your King. I am Artoria Pendragon from another world."
Guinevere's good reputation existed only in her own world, and even there, it was confined to a very small circle. In this world, she lacked even that.
Rather than explain the story of her world to Bedivere—a tale she foresaw having to repeat countless times—Guinevere decided it was simpler to just call herself Artoria.
After all, she was currently using Artoria's body, and partners were one and the same. She was sure her Lia wouldn't mind.
Hearing Guinevere's declaration, Merlin paused for a moment but didn't expose her. Bedivere, after his own moment of stunned silence, shifted his salute to the proper knight's bow for his King.
This time, Guinevere did not step aside.
"Then... then, King of Knights from another world, how should I address you?"
"Just call me Ruler."
This time, Guinevere let her stern expression soften, revealing a smile that this world's Bedivere had never seen on Artoria's face.
He was captivated.